I tried to cycle my 20 gallon, fish in, for 6 weeks using Seachem Stability and Prime conditioner and no matter what I did, my ammonia was always 0.25 (I have ammonia in my tap), 0 nitrite, 0 nitrate. After I’d feed my fish, the ammonia would spike to 1.0 ppm, I’d freak out, and do a 30-40% water change and detox the ammonia with a double dose of Prime. My tank never cycled until I bought Tetra SafeStart Plus.
Here’s what I did. I bought the two 8oz bottles. I did a 50% water change and took a siphon and hovered over the gravel a bit to get some of the food and poop out (I didn’t actually dig in to the gravel so that I could preserve the bacteria in the gravel). I used Tetra Aquasafe to condition my water this time, since I felt like Prime would mess up the bacteria somehow.
I waited about an hour before putting bacteria in. I took one, shook it really hard, and dumped the whole bottle into my filter while it was running even though the bottle treats 50 gallons and I only had a 20 gallon tank with 3 mollies, a swordtail, and two female bettas. I should mention that I have a bio sponge, a couple of layers of filter floss, Purigen, and carbon in my filter (Aqueon Quietflow 20). And I filled up the bottle with tank water, shook it really hard again to get the rest of the bacteria out, then dumped the water into the filter.
Then I did nothing for 3 days. I fed flakes lightly once a day during that time. On the 4th day, I took the second bottle, shook it really hard, and put about 3 oz into the filter while it was running.
I did nothing for 2 more days. Then I decided to test the water. 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, 5 ppm nitrates! Holy crap my tank cycled in about a week and none of my fish died!!!
Okay so I was a believer in this stuff. I had to try it again. I bought the 3.38 oz version for the 10 gallon Glofish tank I was setting up. First I rinsed the tank, gravel, and decor in tap water and set up the gravel and decor. Then I added dechlorinated water using Aquasafe conditioner. I put on my filter (Aqueon Quietflow 10) and let the water run for 24 hours. Then, I went out to buy 3 long fin tetra Glofish. Came home, acclimated them by floating the bag and slowly adding my tank water into the bag. Then I netted them out and put them in my tank.
I turned off the filter. I shook the 3.38 oz bottle of SafeStart really hard and poured all of it into my filter (this time I only had carbon and filter floss, and bio sponge). I let it sit for 10 minutes then turned the filter back on. I did nothing for 3 days. On the 4th day, I took my 8 oz bottle of SafeStart I bought earlier, shook it really hard and added about 3 oz into the filter. Because this was a new tank, I added another 3 oz into the filter while it was running 2 days later.
Finally I tested the water on the 7th day. 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, 5 ppm nitrates!!! Cycled in a week with 3 fish, all still alive and well.
I think the key is to overdose on SafeStart and add a little more on the 3rd or 4th day after the initial dose to help boost the amount of bacteria available. Don’t do water changes, don’t add Prime, nothing. Don’t test your water for at least a week, you will psych yourself out, convince yourself you need to do a water change or dose with Prime, and so on. Just feed lightly during this time and let SafeStart do the work.
Some people swear by Seachem Stability but Tetra SafeStart Plus is my go-to bottled bacteria. It works if you use it correctly.
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From the manufacturer
Tetra SafeStart Plus To Cycle New Aquariums
Product Details
SafeStart Plus accelerates the establishment of the bio-filter in newly set-up freshwater aquariums. The live bacteria start working immediately to provide a safe and healthy environment for your fish without the long wait. SafeStart Plus can also be used after a water change, when adding fish or after medicating
How SafeStart Plus works
New filters are sterile and take 30 to 40 days for bacteria to naturally form. With SafeStart Plus, all of the beneficial bacteria are seeded from the beginning, for instant, safe results.
Why SafeStart Plus is better:
- Our concentrated formula adds a full filter bed of bacteria with just one dose
- Live nitrifying bacteria start working immediately to reduce dangerous ammonia and nitrite
- Prevents new tank syndrome for healthy fish
- Shelf-stable formula requires no refrigeration for added convenience
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Tetra Water Care 30-30-30
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How to Tell When a Saltwater Fish Tank Cycles
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Cycling a new aquarium with fish
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 | Tetra 77140 EasyBalance PLUS Water Conditioner, 16.9-Ounce | Tetra EasyBalance Plus 8.45 Ounces, Weekly Freshwater Aquarium Water Conditioner | API QUICK START Freshwater and Saltwater Aquarium Nitrifying Bacteria 16-Ounce Bottle | Tetra EasyStrips Complete Kit 25, 6 in1 Testing Strips and 25 Ammonia Testing Strips | Dr.Tim’s Aquatics Freshwater One & Only Nitrifying Bacteria – For New Fish Tanks, Aquariums, Water Filtering, Disease Treatment – Eco-Friendly Fish Tank Cleaner – Removes Toxins – Treats 30 Gallons | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Customer Rating | (3245) | (4048) | (1213) | (11100) | (1477) | (2153) |
| Price | $8.59 | $4.99 | $6.09 | $16.98 | $13.58 | $15.99 |
| Sold By | Amazon.com | Petco | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Bayfield CountryMax Pet Supplies |
| Size | 100 ml, 3.38-Ounce | 16.9-Ounce | 8.45-Ounce | 16-Ounce | 25-Count | 2 oz - Treats 30 Gallons |
I have been using this product for over ten years, and have started at least five aquariums from scratch using it. There is a persistent myth that Seachem Prime water conditioner will starve the beneficial bacteria in SafeStart; this is totally false. Prime converts ammonia NH3 into ammonium NH4+. Both ammonia and ammonium are food for the beneficial bacteria in Tetra SafeStart.I just finished setting up a 25-gallon zebrafish aquarium using Tetra Safestart. I used a new aquarium, new filter and media, and new gravel. Here are the steps I took.1. I set up the tank, filled it with 75-degree F water, started the heater and filter and let it run for an hour.2. I dechlorinated with 1 teaspoon of Seachem Prime (double dose for that volume of water)3. I went to the fish store and bought my fish the same day.4. I acclimated the fish to the tank by floating the bag, then released the fish into the aquarium.5. I took my three bottles of Tetra SafeStart (3.38 oz. each) and shook them for a timed two minutes. Shaking Tetra SafeStart vigorously is very important. It is also important that the date on the sticker on the bottom of the bottle is at least ten months in the future, preferably a year or more. The fresher the SafeStart is, the better it will work.6. I poured the Tetra SafeStart into the aquarium.7. I fed the fish sparingly each day.8. I used a test kit to test ammonia levels each day. It never rose above .259. After two weeks, my water parameters were Ammonia: 0 Nitrite: 0 NitrAte: 5-10If ammonia goes too high when cycling, it is okay to add Seachem Prime to detoxify it. If I want to reduce ammonia during cycling, I turn off the filters and do a water-only water change, which means dipping water out of tank with a pitcher and not vacuuming gravel or cleaning filter. The bacteria do not float around in the water after a day or two. They colonize filter media and the gravel, so it's okay to replace water dipped from the tank. Make sure to dechlorinate replacement water.Tetra SafeStart works very well to quickly establish a biofilter in an aquarium as long as the Tetra Safestart has not been exposed to temperature extremes or gotten too close to its expiration date.Seachem Prime can be used at the very same time as Tetra Safestart and the bacteria will thrive.
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Jack
Good product
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on July 19, 2021Size: 250 ml, 8.45-OunceVerified Purchase
D. Theoret
I had good results with fresh product, no so goos with not so fresh product
Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on February 11, 2016Size: 250 ml, 8.45-OunceVerified Purchase
reoforo
Uno dei pochi prodotti di questo tipo funzionanti
Reviewed in Italy 🇮🇹 on December 16, 2016Size: 250 ml, 8.45-OunceVerified Purchase
Jessica Feldman
Works good
Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on August 26, 2018Size: 1.69 fl. ozVerified Purchase
terri chartrand
Good
Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on December 1, 2020Size: 100 ml, 3.38-OunceVerified Purchase